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L. MathekaEshikumo tips NCPB to continue KHF league dominance
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 27.03.23. | 20:59
The top six teams in the men's league have qualified for the pre-season tournament, Super Cup.
The Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) men's league concluded on Sunday 26 March with highly entertaining clash between back-to-back champions NCPB and Ulinzi HC that ended in a 30-all draw.
The millers were chasing an unbeaten run in 18 matches while the military side was out to end a losing streak stretching over a decade in the league against the Brian Mathew-led rivals.
Never seen a team celebrate a draw that much, and deservedly so! Ulinzi force a draw against NCPB in a 30-30 outcome without three of their key players who were serving suspensions. pic.twitter.com/IWsRcHULQL
— Matheka (@Lynmatheka) March 26, 2023
They sealed the title on 35 points, three more than second-placed Ulinzi
Coach Nixon Oyaro missed the services of key players Nicholas Ireri and Kelvin Imo but those available fought to the last whistle, forcing the draw and denying the millers maximum points in the season.
NCPB assistant coach Danstun Eshikumo maintains that the team is happy with the outcome and the season they have had en-route to yet another title and doing it unbeaten was the icing on the cake.
Celebrations of a back-to-back champion led by the veterans Sangoro and the exiting Peter Omondi. Well in good people! That trophy should be lifted when the league end IMO @handball_kenya pic.twitter.com/q4tm7oYOaS
— Matheka (@Lynmatheka) March 26, 2023
"All we wanted was an unbeaten run and we have achieved that. The pressure was not on us. This was just a fixture like any other as we had already bagged the title. Our goal was for an unbeaten run and we have achieved that,” the coach stated down playing the fact that Ulinzi missed some players.
“It does not matter who plays. We do not consider those that missed the match key players for Ulinzi, they are just members of the squad like every other player that took part in the game,” the tactician added.
As they shift their focus to the Super Cup and a new season, the tactician believes the team’s dominance will continue as they are looking to add to their depth with three new signings.
“We are bringing in three back court players, a center-back and two left-backs for the new season to add to the squad depth and continue our dominance.
The three are meant to step in for the exiting Peter Omondi and also ensure there is smooth transition when certain players’ time to leave comes. We have to ensure the squad will not suffer if any player leaves,” he added.
Meanwhile, Strathmore University managed to defeat rivals Black Mamba in a 22-17 outcome to move fourth on the rankings on 29 points, one below third-placed General Service Unit (GSU).
Mamba finish fifth with Kenyatta University sealing the top six Super Cup places on 24 points with a better goal difference than Thika Engineers who finished seventh on similar points.
